CA1217915A

CA1217915A - Profiled rail

Info

Publication number: CA1217915A
Application number: CA000449699A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Heinz G. Baus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-22
Filing date: 1984-03-15
Publication date: 1987-02-17
Also published as: EP0122335A1; ES286552Y; DE3310225C2; ES286552U; EP0122335B1; ATE44219T1; ZA8424B; DE3310225A1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
Structural assembly, more particularly for a shower partition, comprising a structural member having a guide channel provided in visible outer face. Located in this channel is a facing decorative panel held by a resilient connecting element having lateral projections engaging in grooves formed by the side walls of the guide channel. It is not possible with known cons-truction to ensure firm seating of the facing panel in the guide channel because of manufacturing tolerances.
furthermore, existing devices are comparatively transversely high. It is therefore proposed that the lateral projections of the connecting element be provided with resilient arcs turned towards the central plane of the connecting element and of the guide channel, these arcs holding the connecting element in the grooves under a predeterminable preload resilient force. The facing panel and the connecting element are also formed with interlocking detent hook-shaped resilient webs that hold them firmly together.

Description

~2~'79~

The present invention relates to a structural assembly, more particularly for a shower partition, comprising a structural profiled member or rail formed with a guide channel arranged in a visible outer surface;
a decorative facing panel arranged in the said channel by means of a resilient connecting element; and lateral projections of the said connecting element engaging in grooves formed by the sidewalls of the channel.
German Utility Model 80 13 940 describes a profiled member of the said type for a shower partition.
The visible outer surface, facing an observer, of the profiled member comprises a guide channel into which is inserted a facing panel made of metal, plastic, wood, or the like. This guide channel has undercut grooves allowing the facing panel to be secured by means of a resilient connecting element. Both the known connecting element and the facing panel are comparatively high at right angles to the outer surface, as a result of which the space available in the interior of the profiled member is reduced accordingly, and the structural volume and structural height of the profiled member must be correspondingly large. This requires a not inconsiderable amount of material, which means that both the material costs and the overall weight of the profiled member are correspondingly high. Furthermore, it is very difficult to achieve firm seating of the facing panel, especially since there may be play between the profiled member, the connecting element and the facing panel, as a result of production tolerances, leaving the facing panel comparatively loosely seated in the profiled member. This makes it possible for dirt and contaminants to lodge between the facing panel and the profiled member and, for hygienic reasons, this is highly undesirable in the case of shower partitions.

I

* published 13 August 1981 Lo Lo As an improvement of a structural assembly of the type mentioned at the beginning hereof, it is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly at low cost end in such a manner that the fitting of the awaking panel requires a structural member of only comparatively low structural height and/or structural volume. This applies all the more since the facing panel is provided at the static supporting part of the structural member. The design of the structural member and facing panel is meant to be simple and inexpensive, and rapid and reliable assembly is meant to be assured.
Furthermore the risk of contamination is to be as low as possible.
The improvement of the invention, as claimed herein, resides in that: each of said lateral pro-sections of said connecting element comprises spring arm means preloadingly mounted free of play in said grooves for holding said facing panel firmly in said guide channel, and cooperating interlocking resilient detent element means on said connecting element and on said facing panel securing said connecting element and said facing panel together.
The spring arm means provides a suitable reload as desired, thus making it possible to allow for all tolerances and still prevent sliding or chattering of the inserted connecting element. The resilient and elastic detent element means on the con netting element and facing panel also ensure a reliable connection free of play. Preferably, the connecting element is made of an extrudable synthetic material, more particularly soft PVC, which ensures very low production costs. Incorporation and assembly of the facing panel may be carried out simply and very accurately, the connecting element, with it's lateral projections being first inserted into the crevice, after 12~79~5 which the facing panel is simply pressed into the con-nectincJ element. It is expressly pointed out at this time that the connecting element may be inserted at the plant, the facing panel, with the desired decoration, being inserted when the structural members, and more particularly the shower partition, are installed on site.
Since the lateral projections with the spring arm means, and furthermore the detent element means, are different components, they may be dimensioned and designed independently of each other, with no need f-or any compromise. The size and flexibility of the projections may easily be predetermined according to the overall design of the profiled structural member, while the detent elements may be designed to facilitate insertion, exchange and replacement of the facing panel.
In one particular form, the connecting element comprises a central part preferably lying upon the bottom surface of the guide-channel and each lateral projection is connected, by a lateral arc, to a resilient lip bearing against one side wall of the channel. The said central part is preferably in the form of a narrow strip or the like. The arcs, with the lips attached thereto, require only a smell amount of material. Each arc bears, under an appropriate reload, upon the inner surface of one of the grooves,` and the central part of the connecting element therefore lies immovably upon the bottom wall of the structural member.
In this connection, the arc may be at a suitable distance from the bottom surface of the receiving groove, in order to ensure resilient mobility of the arm means under all circumstances.
In order to ensure simple and rapid insertion of the facing panel, each detent element means thereof may comprise a web directed inwardly towards the bottom I

wall of the guide channel and having a bulbous extension at the end. In contrast to this, each detent element means of the connecting element has an out-warmly directed web comprising an extension engaging partly over the said bulbous extension, both de-tent elements being thus shaped as interlocked hooks. The overall design of the facing panel and -the connecting element is simple and inexpensive, the said bulb and associated extension being easily moved into the desired position in relation to each other. It is a simple matter to design the cross-section and size of the webs in such a manner that, on the one hand, the fading panel may be easily inserted and, on the other hand, may be reliably held in the structural member.
According to one practical configuration, the detent element means of the facing panel rests upon the central part of the connecting element. This is a simple way of ensuring reliable support and, at the same time, of preventing deformation of, or damage to, the facing panel as a result of the application of large external forces.
In one particular embodiment, the end of the connecting-element arm means is in the form of a lip supported by the facing panel, preferably by the detent element means thereof. This greatly facilitates the insertion of the connecting element, since the said arm means may be designed to be, or may be arranged to be, relatively weakly resilient. Thus, when the facing section is inserted, the arm means is urged firmly in-to the groove. It is obvious that the arm means would now be comparatively rigid.
In order to simplify the insertion of the facing panel into the profiled rail, the lip of the arm means bears against the lateral surface, substantially parallel with the central plane, of the facing-panel Jo _ 7~5 detent element means. This provides reliable support for the elastically resilient arm means upon the detent element means, and no undue force need be applied during insertion according to one particular configuration, the facing panel it in the form of a thin strip with lateral detent element means, and may be produced inexpensively with comparatively simple tools and with a small amount of material. It is of symmetrical design in relation to the central plane.
In one particularly interesting configuration, the connecting element is adapted to be inserted into the profiled member in the direction of its longitudinal axis, while the facing panel may be inserted into the profiled member, from the outside, at right angles to the longitudinal axis. The connecting element is inserted into the profiled member at the plant. During subsequent processing of the profiled member, more particularly when it is assembled into a shower partition, the said connecting element is reliably held in the said profiled member and can no longer go astray, even during transportation. If the profiled member, or the object produced therefrom, is assembled anywhere on site, this may be done without the facing panel, damage to the latter being thus effectively prevented.
This means that the relevant facing panel need be inserted quite simply into the profiled rail only after all onset measures and activities have been completed.
The configuration according to the invention of the detent element means allows the facing panel to be removed after a certain period of time and to be replaced by another section, if necessary, while the connecting element remains firmly seated in the guide-groove and profiled rail.

I Lo The invention will be better understood from the following description of embodiments illustrated in the drawing attached hereto, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a partition, the frame thereof consisting of profiled rails or structural members;
Fig. 2 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line II-II in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an enlargement of -the lower right-hand part of the profiled rail according to Fig. 2.
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical representation of a partition comprising a frame made of four profiled structural members or rails 2, 3 arranged to form a rectangle. Lower profiled rail 2 of this partition generally rests upon the edge of a bath or shower tub, with vertical rails 3 secured to the wall of a room, not shown; or additional partitions are connected to the said vertical profiled rails 3. Three door panels 46, 47, 48 are arranged horizontally displaceable in upper horizontal profiled rail 2. To this end, appropriate guide rails and rollers, not part of this invention and which will not be described further, are provided in known fashion. The frame, or profiled structural members or rails 2, 3 comprise facing panel 10 on outer surfaces 4 which are visible to an observer. Each facing panel is connected to the profiled rail associated therewith, as will be explained hereinafter.
Fig. 2 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, through lower horizontal profiled structural member 2 and a part of door panel 48. Also visible is a door handle 50 running vertically. Vertical profiled structural member 3 is connected to lower profiled member 2 by screwed connections, not shown.
Provided at the lower end of door panel 48 is a guide means 52 engaging in a slot 54 located between the rear ~2~7~5 edge of lower structural member 2 and another pivot ably arranged section 56. With section 56 in the position shown, door panel 48 may be moved back and forth horizontally in the usual manner, i.e. at right angles to the plane of the drawing. If section 56 is swung away, door panel 48, and the other door panels mentioned above, can be swung out of the position shown.
Structural member 2 is hollow and of approximately triangular cross-section, inner wall 58 thereof being rounded and sloping inwardly. The outwardly facing surface 4 of member 2 adjoining a guide channel, desk cribbed below, slopes slightly rearwardly.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the right hand part of structural member 2 as shown in Fig. 2. The outwardly facing surface 4 of member 2 is formed with a guide channel defined by side walls 6 and a bottom wall 16, two grooves 8 being formed in the side walls 6 so that the guide channel is of approximately T-shaped cross-section, but it is also possible to use other cross-sectional shapes, for example a dove-tail cross-section. arranged flush with outwardly facing surface 4 is a facing panel 10 which is inserted in-to the guide channel. The outer surface of facing panel 10 may also be of some other decorative design.
Mounted inside the guide channel 6, 8, 16, is a connecting element 12, the central part 14 of which bears upon bottom wall 16 of the guide channel. The facing panel 10, the guide channel and the connecting element 18 are all symmetrical in relation to a central plane 18. Connecting element 12 has two lateral projections having spring arm means each comprising an arc 20 and a spring arm or resilient lip 22, the latter being directed inwardly towards the central plane 18 and bearing at least partly against the inner surface 24 of a groove 8. connecting element 12 is made of a resilient material preferably plasticized PVC with an appropriate Shore-hardness. Resilient arcs 20 and, additionally, lips or arms 22 ensure that the connecting element 12 be mounted free of play in the guide channel 6, 8, 16. Each arm 22 bears, with a reload resilient force, against longitudinal edge 26 of profiled rail 2 and/or against inner surface 24 of a groove I The con-netting element 12 is thus definitely aligned and secured.
Facing panel 10 comprises, along each of its lateral areas, a hook-shaped detent element means 28 comprising a web 30, directed inwardly towards the bottom wall 16 and terminating into a bulbous extension 32 bearing against connecting element 12,-thus ensuring secure mounting thereof. Extensions 32 project toward the central plane of symmetry 18. Connecting element 12 is formed with matching hook-shaped detent element means 34 each comprising an outwardly directed web 36 terminating into an extension 38 turned toward and engaging partly over an extension 32 in inter engaging hook-like fashion. Detent element means 34 of con-netting element 12 is resilient. However, as will be gathered, detent element means 28 may be resilient instead, or both of said hook-shaped element means 28 and 34 may be resilient. This construction of the detent element means ensures that facing panel 10 be locked securely and free of play in relation to connecting element 12. All in all, this configuration made according to the invention compensates for manufacturing tolerances and/or production inaccuracies in such a manner as to ensure that facing panel 10 be held securely in profiled member or rail 2. The areas of profiled member or rail 2 which are remote from -the central plane 18 are shown to slope at a predetermined I

angle.
The grooves 8 may be open-ended at least at one end so that connecting element 12 may be inserted into profiled member 2 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of member 2, i.e. at right angles to the plane of the drawing. Unwanted release during further processing of the profiled rail is prevented. Facing panel 10 may subsequently be inserted into profiled member 2 and outer surface 4 thereof. Hook-shaped detent elements 28 of facing panel 10 have lateral surfaces 40 running substantially parallel with the central plane 18, the end of lips 22 resting upon these lateral surfaces.
Until such time as facing panel 10 is inserted, lips 22 spring freely and have comparatively little rigidity.
This facilitates the insertion of connecting element 12 into the guide channel 6, 8, 16. If facing panel 10 is then inserted in the manner explained herein before, lateral surfaces 40 of detent elements 28 press the lips 22 against longitudinal edges 26 and/or inner surfaces 24 of grooves 8, this providing secure anchorage and support. Thus, increased rigidity and reload are obtained when the facing panel 10 is inserted.

_ g _

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A structural assembly of the type com-prising: a structural member formed with an elongated guide channel having a central plane of symmetry, parallel side walls each on one side of said plane, a bottom wall joining said side walls and a pair of grooves defined by said side walls and opening toward said bottom wall; a facing panel; a connecting element, in said guide channel, mounting said facing panel into said guide channel; said connecting element having lateral projections fitting into said grooves, the improvement wherein:
each of said lateral projections of said connecting element comprises spring arm means pre-loadingly mounted free of play in said grooves for holding said facing panel firmly in said guide channel, and cooperating interlocking resilient detent element means on said connecting element and on said facing panel securing said connecting element and said facing panel together.

2. A structural assembly according to claim 1, wherein each spring arm means of said lateral projections comprise: a resilient arc turned toward said central plane, said resilient arcs being cons-tructed to be pressed against the surface of said grooves.

3. A structural assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cooperating interlocking resilient detent means comprise, on either side of said plane of symmetry, a first hook-shaped web solid with said facing panel and a second hook-shaped web solid with said connecting element, said webs projecting toward each other and having hooking portions resiliently and removably interlocking one another.

4. A structural assembly according to claim 2, wherein said cooperating interlocking resilient detent means comprise, on either side of said plane of symmetry, a first hook-shaped web solid with said facing panel and a second hook-shaped web solid with said connecting element, said webs projecting toward each other and having hooking portions resiliently and removably interlocking one another.

5. A structural assembly according to claim 4, wherein said first web is resilient.

6. A structural assembly according to claim 4, wherein said second web is resilient.

7. A structural assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein both said webs are resilient.

8. A structural assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said each of said resilient arcs terminates into a resilient lip pressingly bearing simultaneously against said channel side wall, said facing panel and said first hook-shaped web adjacent thereto.

9. A structural assembly as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein said structural member has an out-wardly facing surface, on either side of said guide channel, essentially flush with an outwardly facing surface of said facing panel.

10. A structural assembly according to claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein said grooves are open-ended at least at one common end to allow said connecting element to be slid thereinto from said common end.

11. A structural assembly as claimed in claims 3 or 4, wherein said first hook-shaped webs bear against said connecting element.

12. structural assembly according to claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein said connecting element is made entirely of resilient material and comprises a central part joining said lateral extensions, said central part witting squarely against said bottom wall of said channel.

13. A structural assembly according to claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein said connecting element is made entirely of resilient material and comprises a central part joining said lateral extensions, said central part fitting squarely against said bottom wall of said channel, and wherein said grooves each has a side surface flush with said channel bottom wall.

14. A structural assembly as claimed in claims 1, 3 or 4, wherein said central plane of symmetry extends along the longitudinal axis of said elongated structural member.